Rupert Murdoch arrives in London to visit News of the World offices

his full support, Rupert Murdoch has arrived at the tabloid’s headquarters to take charge of the company’s response to the News of the World hacking scandal.

News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch reads the final edition of the News Of The World

As David Cameron faces mounting criticism over his handling of the phone hacking scandal, the public’s focus was temporarily back on Rupert Murdoch, as the Australian media mogul was seen holding a copy of the final ever edition of the News of the World as he arrived in London.

Mr Murdoch had allowed his son, James, and ex-tabloid editor Rebekah Brooks to deal with the fallout from the damaging revelations of the past few days, but has now decided to take a more hands-on approach.

The news that a private investigator working for the Sunday tabloid had hacked into the voicemail messages of murdered teenager Milly Dowler and relatives of the victims of the 7/7 bombings has already led to the closure of the paper.

But the Murdochs are concerned it could have more far-reaching consequences for their media empire, as it has put News Corp’s proposed takeover of BSkyB in doubt.

Copies of the final edition of the News of the World have been selling out across the country

Just hours before the 80-year-old arrived in the UK, Ed Miliband warned he would force a Commons vote on the issue unless the government agrees to delay a decision about it.

David Cameron said on Friday that the phone hacking scandal would not influence the process by which permission would be granted or otherwise.

But the Labour leader insisted circumstances have changed and that culture secretary Jeremy Hunt should refer the takeover to the Competition Commission to make the final decision.

Mr Miliband told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show that if that did not happen he would instigate a Commons vote on the matter – something that could lead to a defeat for the government, as many Lib Dem MPs are known to share his view.

‘David Cameron has got to understand that when the public have seen the disgusting revelations that we have seen this week, the idea that this organisation, which engaged in these terrible practices, should be allowed to take over BSkyB, to get that 100 per cent stake, without the criminal investigation having been completed and on the basis of assurances from that self-same organisation – frankly that just won’t wash with the public,’ he said.

Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes told Sky News that his party should call for the takeover to be postponed until the investigation into the News of the World phone hacking scandal is concluded.